Wednesday is move-in day for U of L freshmen

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Wednesday marks move-in day for incoming freshmen at the University of Louisville.

It's organized chaos on campus at U of L.

At Louisville Hall, a mostly freshmen dorm, moving carts roll across the pavement.

This year's incoming freshmen class is breaking a record with 73 percent living on campus.That's a big difference from about a decade ago, when most students lived off campus, according to U of L interim president, Dr. Greg Postel.

"We know that students who live on campus do better," Postel said. "They're surrounded by students who are studying the same kinds of things and they have a chance to join campus organizations."

The university has increased efforts over the years to get students to live on campus.

"We have been working really hard to make sure that there are opportunities for students to live on campus at least during their first year of college. so it's exciting to see that 73 percent number," Postel said.

However, freshmen enrollment is down from last year. U of L is on probation with its accrediting agency stemming from Governor Matt Bevin's attempt to replace the board of trustees. It also faced financial problems associated with its non-profit foundation and President James Ramsey resigned last year. According to Postel, the dip in enrollment is small and it's difficult to pin point if that is the exact cause, or if the slight decrease is by chance.

Postel said, "We have been working since January to fix a lot of issues brought to our attention and we are making great progress. Most of those things have been addressed and we are hoping by January or so to have the list cleared off."

He adds enrollment has only dropped by about 100 students. WDRB spoke with some incoming freshman who say the problems with accreditation and leadership don't concern them.

"When I heard about that, for like a minute I was a little worried about it, but right now I'm not at all," U of L freshman, Jacob Vanthournout said.

Vanthournout's father agrees.

"He's going to be a freshman," Jim Vanthournout said about his son. "If something turns bad, he has plenty of time to change. I would have a hard time believing from the accreditation and the leadership, I have a hard time believing that the governor would let anything bad happen."

"So from last year we had a little over 2,800 first years at orientation week and this year we have about 2,700, so there is about a 100 student difference," Postel said.

Fall semester classes start on August 21.

The five most popular majors this year for incoming freshmen are business, biology, nursing, education and engineering.